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SA recalls ambassador

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 12:08 AM

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A file photo shows former Rwandan Army Chief, Kayumba Nyamwasa. AFP

South Africa has recalled its ambassador to Kigali following a
diplomatic row over the shooting of an exiled Rwandan army general
in Johannesburg, the foreign ministry said on Thursday.

"We have recalled our ambassador to Rwanda for consultations.
Let me be categorical. We have not broken diplomatic relations with
Rwanda," foreign ministry director general Ayanda Ntsaluba told a
news conference.

The move is traditionally the strongest demonstration of
official disapproval short of severing diplomatic relations, but
Ntsaluba said Pretoria was in discussions with the Rwandan
government.

"All of us are just trying to understand how we can work on our
relations," he said.

Dissident Rwandan general Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa was shot and
wounded on 19 June. His wife has called the shooting an
assassination attempt sparked by Nyamwasa's criticisms of President
Paul Kagame.

Five men have been charged over the murder, but South African
prosecutors have not revealed their nationalities, saying only that
they were investigating if the men were in the country legally.

"The presence of some Rwandese people in South Africa has had an
impact on those relations," Ntsaluba said of Pretoria's recent ties
with Rwanda.

"We are not making any connection by recalling our ambassador
between the government of Rwanda and the specific incident
involving general Nyamwasa," he said. However he added: "Clearly
the presence of the individuals here has raised the temperature."

The Rwandan foreign ministry summoned South Africa's ambassador
Gladstone Dumisani Gwadiso last month to express its concern over
the probe into the shooting of Nyamwasa. Rwanda has denied any role
in the shooting.

South Africa has suggested foreign agents might have been
involved in the shooting but did not say which country they were
from.

Sapa

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